Mayor to light tree at Burbank City Hall Saturday night; ice rink opens Thursday

Burbank Mayor Bob Frutos will light up the city’s holiday tree on the steps of City Hall Saturday night as part of a ceremony that this year features performances by some of the youngest dancers who have ever appeared at the annual event — the “Mini Muffins” from Generation DCD and Burbank First Academy.

“They’re so adorable,” the event’s organizer, Victoria Cusumano, said about pre-school and elementary-school dancers. “Major cute factor.”

The youngsters will perform as part of the program at City Hall, 275 E. Olive Ave., which will begin at 6:30 p.m., kicking off a season of downtown events that include the return in a few days of a temporary ice-skating rink in the parking lot on the corner of Third Street and Orange Grove Avenue.

The tree-lighting event will also include John Burroughs High School’s “Muses” a cappella choir, the RC Dance Center’s “Kickettes” and the return of some Disney costumed guests.

Attendees will be able to donate unwrapped gifts to the Burbank Fire Department’s “Spark of Love” toy drive, benefiting the Burbank Temporary Aid Center. They can also write letters to U.S. service members and take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

On Thursday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the temporary ice rink will be held at 2:45 p.m., followed by skating demonstrations. Later, the band Burbank School of Rock will perform at 6 p.m., according to a schedule of events released this week.

The rink will be open daily from Dec. 10 to Jan. 3. Weekday hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with extended hours to 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission will be $10, with $4 for skate rentals. Skating aids will be available for $6 for those who need help balancing.

Skating lessons taught by Pickwick Ice instructors will be offered every Saturday during the roughly three-week season, beginning with children’s lessons at 9 a.m. Adult lessons will start at 9:25 a.m. Cost for lessons, which includes skate rental and admission to the rink, will be $20.

Next Saturday, the parks and recreation department and Burbank Town Center, 201 E. Magnolia Blvd., will host a breakfast with Santa from 8:30 to 10 a.m. The event, which will cost $10 per person, will feature holiday crafts, prizes and story time with the jolly old elf.

The same day, the ice rink will host a YMCA fundraiser, with $1 from each ticket donated to the Burbank Community Y. The all-day event will feature a special appearance by Saint Nick, who will skate with kids from 2 to 3:30 p.m., as well as a performance by the Stanford University a cappella group called Everyday People at 7 p.m.

DJ No System will provide the soundtrack for Disney interpretive artist Joel Payne’s 3D mixed-media creation dubbed “Believable Fantasy” from 8 to 11:30 p.m.

New to the rink this year will be a nearby holiday market, which will be open from 2 to 9 p.m. weekdays and from noon to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. It will be closed Sundays.

Not all of the vendors are signed up yet, but the market is expected to feature a variety of arts and crafts as well as gifts and holiday items, said Mary Hamzoian, the city’s economic development manager, this week.

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Chad Garland, chad.garland@latimes.com

Twitter: @chadgarland